Put Some Style in Your Garage, Your Closet, and on Your Wrist

Automobiles and fashion are intertwined. Design leaders in the automotive realm are as influential as their accessory counterparts. Style-conscious automotive enthusiasts appreciate that your choice of watch and clothing can compliment your vehicle's aesthetics.

But what's the best way to pair apparel and watches with your car? Start with stylish coupes, like the BMW i8 and 6 Series Gran Coupe, which stand out to us as new icons in automotive design. The i8 pairs supercar looks with the fuel economy of a miserly hybrid, creating a new kind of automotive object of desire. The 6 Series Gran Coupe is luxurious to a fault, and strikingly handsome.

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Given the parameters above, we deferred to the experts. To explore options for horophiles, we consulted Elaine Barsoom, executive vice president of Manhattan-based watch sharing outfit, Eleven James. At Eleven James, a members-only collection of watches available for short-term loans, Barsoom has exclusive access to a collection of the newest and most decadent watches on the market. We've long admired the premise of swapping watches in the same way premium car clubs allow members to swap cars.

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For fashion advice, we turned to Executive Style Consultant to the stars, Andrew Weitz, of Los Angeles-based The Weitz Effect. Weitz, who calls Hollywood stars his clients, was already familiar with both BMW models that tend to crowd the streets of southern California. "Ultimately, it's all about what your day looks like, who you are meeting and how you want to present yourself," Weitz said. "That should determine your attire for the day."

If you're fortunate enough to be driving one of these two coupes, signs are pointing to a streak of good days. Here's what our experts had to say:

BMW

The car: BMW i8

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What we said about its design: "The second thing you notice when you see the i8 is that you've stopped breathing, because the first thing you notice is that it is gorgeous. BMW wiselystyled the i8 to reflect the car's unconventional construction."

The watch: Barsoom recommends pairing the i8 with the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Elephant, an automatic wristwatch that apes the style and ethos of the i8. Like the i8, the Audemars is an example of avant garde style, in muted gray instead of flashier, shinier tones.

Elaine Barsoom/Eleven James

Look closely and you'll spot the contrasting tones in the watch face-just like the i8's subtle blue, black, and white color contrast options. The most significant difference between the two objects of style? The timepiece features steel construction with 22-carat gold inside, while the i8 is mostly composed of lightweight carbon fiber.

The clothing: "There are several ways to style oneself to pair with this powerful driving machine," Weitz said, "but not to overdo it." During the workweek, or for events where the i8 accompanies smart casual dress, Weitz suggests donning a blazer with either a dress shirt or polo, along with tailored jeans or a slim pant and a shoe or sneaker. "Wear either a patterned or solid colored blazer with a button up shirt or with a short or long sleeve polo paired with a dark denim and a designer sneaker or casual shoe."

BMW

The car: BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe

What we said about its design: "The new 6 Series with its sleek long profile, sloping front end and pouty derriere is beautiful. There isn't a bit of its design I would change. How could you improve upon it? Introduce the BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe. Give it to the Bavarians to top themselves." (December 2011)

The watch: The 6 Series Gran Coupe reflects a different type of consumer, Barsoom argued, and she recommended the Rolex Day- Date II as an apropos accessory. Encased in white gold-or platinum, or two other types of gold-the Day-Date II offers high-quality construction and eye-catching design.

Elaine Barsoom/Eleven James

As the name suggests, the Day-Date II displays them both. Like the Gran Coupe, the Day-Date II melds elegance and precision.

The clothing: Fashion-forward cars should have owners that reflect, or at least appreciate, the same sense of style. "Keep it simple and basic if you aren't the fashion forward type guy," Weitz suggested. Given the 6 Series' relatively understated color palette, Weitz recommended pairing a navy blue slim-cut/tailored suit, with either a crisp white, blue, lavender or pink dress shirt that has a great collar that sticks up, sits nicely around your neck, and lays perfectly with your jacket. "A brown boot or monk strap shoe adds to a more styled look," he said, as does "a colorful/patterned silk pocket square."